Haworthia plant named ‘L1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Haworthia  cultivar named ‘L1’ is disclosed, characterized by a single rosette of foliage, and distinctive horizontal white bands on green foliage. The new variety is a  Haworthia , typically produced as a garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Haworthia limifolia.

Variety denomination: ‘L1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar was discovered as a chance, naturally occurring, whole plant mutation of the parent variety, an unnamed variety of Haworthia limifolia. ‘L1’ was discovered by Peter Lock, a citizen of the Netherlands in a commercial planting of Haworthia limifolia in November of 2003, at a commercial greenhouse in s'Gravenzande, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘L1’ was first performed in the Netherlands, at a commercial laboratory by tissue culture in May 2006. ‘L1’ has since produced several generations and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘L1’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘L1.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘L1’ as a new and distinct Haworthia cultivar:

-   -   1. Unique white bands crossing the entire leaf surface.     -   2. Foliage occurs in a single rosette, with no off-sets         observed.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘L1’ are similar to plants of the parent variety, an unnamed variety of Haworthia limifolia in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar ‘L1’ produce foliage with a green horizontal stripe, whereas the parent variety has entirely green leaves.

The parent variety is also the best commercial comparison to the new variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘L1’ indoors in the Netherlands. This plant is approximately 10 months old, shown in a 4 inch pot. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The, R.H.S. Colour Chart, 2001, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘L1’ plants in a commercial greenhouse in Kimpen aan de Issel, the Netherlads. Temperatures ranged from 12° C. to 15° C. night and day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to the plants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Haworthia limifolia ‘L1 .’ -   Age of the plant described: Approximately 10 months.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: Approximately 20 to 25 days at 21° C. -   Root description: Fibrous -   Propagation method: Tissue culture.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Compact, rosulate succulent. -   Container size: 4 inch. -   Height: Approximately 3.5 cm. -   Plant spread: Approximately 9.3 cm. -   Growth rate: Slow, approximately 4 cm per year. -   Branching characteristics: Non-branching, no stems or lateral     branches. To date, only a single basal rosette of leaves has been     observed.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Rosulate, simple leaf.         -   Average quantity of leaves per rosette.—18.         -   Average length.—Approximately 4.6 cm.         -   Widest width.—Approximately 1.8 cm.         -   Height/thickness.—Approximately 0.6 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Subulate.         -   Apex.—Narrow acute.         -   Base.—Broad cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture of top surface.—Rough, dull, non-pubescent.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Rough, dull, non-pubescent.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green N137A, base             Greyed-Orange 177B. Horizontal stripes near White N155C.             Stripes average a distance of 0.15 cm apart from each other,             with an average width of 0.05 cm. Average number of stripes             of 23 per leaf. Young foliage under side: Near RHS Green             137B, base Greyed-Orange 177B. Horizontal stripes near White             N155C. Stripes average a distance of 0.15 cm apart from each             other, with an average width of 0.05 cm. Average number of             stripes of 23 per leaf. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS             Green N137A, base Greyed-Orange 177B. Horizontal stripes             near White N155C. Stripes average a distance of 0.15 cm             apart from each other, with an average width of 0.05 cm.             Average number of stripes of 23 per leaf. Mature foliage             under side: Near RHS Green 137B, base Greyed-Orange 177B.             Horizontal stripes near White N155C. Stripes average a             distance of 0.15 cm apart from each other, with an average             width of 0.05 cm. Average number of stripes of 23 per leaf.         -   Venation.—Venation not visible.         -   Petiole.—No petiole. -   Other characteristics: Foliage highly resistant to tearing or     breaking due to mechanical stress. No stipules, tendrils, thorns, or     spines present.

FLOWER

Bud production and flower production has not been observed to date.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Not observed due to lack of flower production.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     diseases or pests has been observed in this variety. -   Drought tolerance and temperature tolerance: Drought tolerant     succulent. Low temperature tolerance is unknown. Tolerates high     temperature to at least 45° C. -   Fruit/seed production: Fruits and seeds have not been observed to     date. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Haworthia plant named ‘L1’ as herein illustrated and described. 